Talia's Codebook for Mathletes

by Marissa Moss

Can math-loving Talia crack the code of being cool in middle school? Marissa Moss, creator of the internationally best-selling Amelia’s Notebook series, makes a welcome, STEM-oriented return to the comics diary form.

Talia loves math puzzles and code-breaking, but the new social rules of middle school have her stumped. Her best friend, Dash, is now embarrassed to be best friends with a girl, so he only wants to hang out with Talia outside of school. And although Talia is excited to make the mathlete team, the strict team captain doubts her abilities . . . just because she’s a girl. But Talia has a great idea: she’ll start her own all-girls mathlete team! As the first competition approaches, Talia is determined to bring her fledgling team to victory, get her best friend back, and break the social code of preteen life. In the spirit of her best-selling Amelia’s Notebook series, Marissa Moss brings Talia’s adventures to life through charming text, illustrations, doodles, graphs, and puzzles. This delightful new series is for all mathletes, doodlers, and anyone who has ever had to navigate the unfamiliar conventions of a new school.

Genres: Middle Grade, Mathematics, Stem

240 pages, Hardcover

First published June 13, 2023

About the author

Marissa Moss has written more than seventy books, from picture books to middle-grade and young adult novels. Best known for the Amelia's Notebook series, her books are popular with teachers and children alike. Her picture book Barbed Wire Baseball won the California Book Award gold medal. Moss is also the founder of Creston Books, an independent children's publishing house.

Reviews

[Kathreadsall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED the Amelia's notebooks in middle school, so was so excited to hear author Marissa Moss is starting a brand new series! TALIA'S CODEBOOK features her signature brand of humor and drawings while addressing serious issues like lack of female representation in STEM and male toxicity.

[Kasey McSwain · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the arc edition of the book: I think it’s really cute in concept and I love all of the codes for kids to solve.

I think the story was weak in the sense that Dash makes Talia feel bad the whole time. Makes her feel like she’s somehow always in the wrong and she struggles to find her voice to explain why that’s not fair. I wish that Dash had been told his behavior was disrespectful, that she was also having trouble adjusting to middle school, and that their struggles weren’t a competition.

[Chloe (Always Booked) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This took me forever to finish and I'm not sure why because it was a really cute story with a great message. This is a graphic novel inspired by the author's own experience being one of the only female mathletes. Our main character, Talia, joins the mathletes and all the boys are rude and exclude her. Even her best friend, Dash, has said he can't be her friend in public because the boy/girl dynamic causes him to get made fun of. She decides to F the man and make her own female only mathlete team called the Mathlete Mermaids. They compete against the boys and theres a girl power moment, but then they realize that theyre all stronger together and being kind is what matters most.

[Jame_EReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you @walkerbooks for this complimentary copy to read and review. My son read this in one sitting and thoroughly liked this book.

To my son’s👦🏻review.

I like how this book shows that math gets harder as you go through higher middle school years. Talia’s determination to set up Mathlete club to invite more friends to join so that math can become easier to study together. Friendship is important in this book while competing. I like this book because the layout is easy to follow and read, plus it has many doodles, graphics and equations for me to understand what Talia is explaining her theories. I really like this book because it made me think and analyze the equations shown in the book.

[Mark Buxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

What worked:
The book’s synopsis talks about Talia creating an all-girl mathlete team but that doesn’t happen until the midpoint of the book. The main focus that will resonate with young readers is trying to survive the social expectations of middle school. Dash’s wish to not associate with her at school is a result of his fear of being teased about having a girlfriend. The early pages share her observations about how elementary school differs from sixth grade. Math is harder now (but more fun) but navigating classmates is even more challenging. Talia develops an overwhelming interest in codes and puzzles and wants to encourage others to explore them too. She can’t understand why the mathlete team doesn’t want to use them, they’re great practice for logical thinking and building teamwork, so she begins to imagine other ways to spread the word about coding.
The story is enriched with illustrations, charts, or diagrams on every page. The premise of the book is that it’s Talia’s journal of her experiences in middle school and the pictures depict her love for drawing and codes. Comic drawings with speech bubbles can be found on most pages to reflect Talia’s interactions with Dash, her classmates, and activities at home and in school. The pages often share Talia’s observations and deductions that range from the “Where You Sit at Lunch Code”, to “Tomorrow can be the best word or the worst word”, to “Little Brothers Aren’t as Dumb as They Seem”. Other sections present different types of codes with examples that young readers will probably try with their own friends. The blend of story and pictures will make this book very approachable and entertaining for kids.
Friendship is a major part of the plot and Talia learns some valuable lessons. The common thread throughout the book is Talia’s drive to have Dash display their friendship at school. This shows the conflicted feelings of middle-grade students as they explore a new school culture of adolescents and the complicated world of boy-girl relationships. Talia has two close girlfriends who are very supportive even though they don’t have a passion for math. They give her honest opinions even when Talia doesn’t want to hear them because they’re things Talia needs to hear. They offer encouraging and motivating words when Talia needs them and help her form the all-girls mathlete team.
What didn’t work as well:
Readers who don’t like to think will probably find this book challenging. Math, problem-solving, and codes dominate the plot as Talia deals with common middle-grade issues. However, the illustrations and explanations of those topics make everything easier to understand so readers can focus more on Talia’s friendships and determination to bring positive change.
The Final Verdict:
This book addresses the cultural biases that keep girls from pursuing interests in math and competition. It should motivate young girls to follow Talia’s example and refuse to let anyone stop them from following their dreams. Overall, the writing style and pictures make this book very enjoyable and I recommend you give it a shot.

[Lorie · Rating 3 out of 5]

What do you do when your best friend doesn't want to be school friends anymore? Talia is having a tough time in middle school as the rules seem to have all changed from elementary school. Her best friend Dash doesn't want to be seen being friends at school because she is a girl. They both love Math and make the Mathlete team, but Talia feels unwelcome by the all-male team and Dash is no help! Her female friends say to just let it go, but that doesn't feel right either. Will Talia's idea for an all-girl team solve her middle school problems?

This is a middle grade novel written like a middle school notebook diary with illustrations and information on math and coding. Moss is a veteran at this format, having introduced her Amelia Notebook's 25 years ago which are similar in style to this story. Fans of diary or journal fiction will like this format and Talia as a main character. This looks like it will be continued as a series from the message at the end of the book.

I would recommend this book for purchase by middle school and public libraries.

This book was provided by the publisher for professional review by SWON Libraries.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Was Amelia's Notebook really published in 1995! Wow! My library's copies of these all fell into disrepair, so I knew it had been a while. Talia seems a little more put together than Amelia, and is really into math. This reads almost like a How-To book for surviving middle school, and is similar to Amelia in the Notebook Novel format. Reminded me a bit of Vivat's Frazzled as well.

[Tracie · Rating 3 out of 5]

In an illustrated diary packed with puzzles, math-loving Talia uses her logic to crack the code of middle school friendships.

Cute. Teachers, take note of the Math Pizza Party scavenger hunt on page 144--that would be a fun classroom activity (the hunt could lead to a non-edible prize if food is not permitted in your classroom).

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

good moral

Predictable but still a good book about being friends but listening to one another and understanding how the other is feeling. It would be easy to say Dash should just have been friends with her and it worried about the other boys but that didn’t happen. One day st a time.

[Jeni Enjaian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel conflicted about this heavily illustrated middle grade work in the style of books like Diary of the Wimpy Kid. Personally, I did not like the art style, specifically how the illustrator drew the people. I also thought that the plot was a bit lackluster. Overall, it's not bad but it's extremely engaging either. Unfortunately, this one fell flat for me.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Talia's Codebook for Mathletes: DNF.

-Lacks a clear sense of the passage of time, which makes the journal format confusing
-Odd story/character contradictions
-Talia's conception of weirdness vs. normality feels uncomfortably ignorant and/or judgmental of neurodivergence

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book to read. It’s definitely a book you can’t put down. It shows you that girls can do anything that boys can do and that can be you. Don’t be who people want you to be.

[Rachelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

So good! Great read to continue your love of math or help others love math.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great graphic novel about a girl that loves math but in on a team with only boys who don't think she should be there. So, she makes her own mathlete team with just girls.

[michaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

read this for my inner child who loved the amelia’s notebooks series

[Lyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging mix of math, coding and middle school politics. Interesting backstory of the author’s, to this book too.